The Northern Marianas House of Representatives has rejected a bill that would have legalised the use of marijuana in the islands.
Marijuana plant Photo: (Esteban Lopez via unsplash.com)
The lower chamber has relegated the measure back to committee level, effectively junking the Senate bill after House lawmakers deemed it in violation of the CNMI Constitution due to its revenue-generating measures.
Under the CNMI Constitution only the House can introduce legislation that have a revenue-generating component.
The so called 'pot bill' originated was sponsored by Senator Sixto Igisomar.
It is expected, however, that House Representative Joseph Deleon Guerrero will file a new bill with the same aim that eliminaties constitutional questions.